Cataract surgery reduces average number ocular hypotensive medications

In patients with ocular hypertension, cataract surgery resulted in a sustained reduction in the average number of ocular hypotensive medications used, according to a study.

Using data from 92 participants (149 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery from the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) Medication Group and 531 participants (n=1004 eyes) from the Medication Group who did not undergo cataract surgery, researchers examined differences in preoperative and postoperative IOP and ocular hypotensive medications use over a 72-month period.

Patients who had undergone cataract surgery significantly decreased the number of ocular hypotensive medications through the 48-month postoperative visit compared to the patient in the control group who did not undergo cataract surgery.

At the split date, defined as the first visit after cataract surgery and the 15th visit in the control group, in 23% of eyes medication was not needed and in 41% of eyes, there was a reduction in medication burden.

Patients who had cataract surgery had a decrease in IOP (P< 0.001) but became non-significant at 1 year.

Reference
Mansberger SL, Gardiner SK, Gordon M, et al; Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study group. Cataract surgery lowers intraocular pressure and medication use in the Medication Group of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. Am J Ophthalmol. 2021 Jul 16:S0002-9394(21)00375-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.07.008. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34280363.